Explore every episode of the podcast The Truth

Beijing residents and businesses fear fallout as US-China trade war escalates, with tariffs now exceeding 100% on some goods. Local traders report plummeting orders, while angry investors demand retaliation after stock losses. China’s government condemns US "unilateral bullying," imposing reciprocal tariffs and export controls on rare earth minerals. State media vows to "fight to the end," even as ordinary citizens express resignation. The central bank intervenes to stabilise markets amid fears over jobs and economic stability. Tensions worsen after US VP Vance’s "Chinese peasants" remark, though Beijing urges dialogue. With both sides digging in, the conflict risks spiralling further.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's stance against building nuclear weapons during a speech marking its nuclear achievements. He criticised repeated accusations, inviting further inspections. The IAEA confirmed Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, still below weapons-grade. With weakened allies in the region and a major US military build-up, Iran's leverage is reduced. Despite pressure, Iran insists diplomacy is the only solution and seeks a deal to lift US sanctions. Former President Trump has warned of military action if no agreement is reached.

For 80 years, the Polish town of Suwałki has honoured 16 partisans hanged by Nazi occupiers in a public execution. Today, their memorial takes on new urgency as residents draw parallels between history and current tensions with Russia. The Suwałki Gap—where Poland, Lithuania, and Russia’s Kaliningrad meet—has shifted from tourist curiosity to fortified border zone. Ukrainian refugees here warn of repeating pre-WWII mistakes, citing Putin’s ambitions and Western hesitancy. Layers of trauma overlap: Nazi atrocities, Soviet control, and now fears of renewed conflict. Barbed wire and emergency bags underscore a community caught between remembrance and preparation. In Suwałki, the past is a mirror for an uncertain future.

The so-called Morag corridor is basically a line that has been drawn between Rafah and Khan Younis to the north of it. This is an area of the Gaza Strip that Israel now completely controls, and has not allowed Palestinian civilians in. It dissects the Gaza Strip from the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) commercial crossing, dashing any hope that humanitarian assistance could soon be allowed back after an entire month of blockade.

Asian countries are among those hardest hit by Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs. Chinese exports to the US now face a whopping 54% levy. High tariffs were also given to US allies Japan and South Korea, whose governments are now scrambling to respond.

Warning: This report contains strong images. Liberated central Khartoum remains a ghost city, its streets strewn with decomposing bodies of fighters as the stench of death lingers. The commercial district lies in ruins, with infrastructure stripped and buildings like the gold market utterly looted. Residents allowed brief access find businesses burned, machinery destroyed, and power cables vandalised for copper. Authorities promise reconstruction, but assessing the damage alone could take years. While soldiers patrol for remaining RSF fighters, displaced citizens return to shattered livelihoods with only determination to rebuild. The scale of destruction, from government buildings to power grids, reflects two years of urban warfare. For now, hope clashes with the reality of a city unrecognisable to its people.

Vice President JD Vance has visited a US military base on the island of Greenland. In a speech to troops, he accused Denmark of under-investing in the territory and leaving it vulnerable to security threats. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he plans to take control of the semi-autonomous territory.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the United States will deploy advanced capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region as part of efforts to counter growing Chinese influence. Speaking during a visit to the Philippines, Hegseth emphasized the need to 're-establish a deterrence' amid Western concerns over China’s strategic ambitions.

Columbia University’s President Katrina Armstrong had only had this job since August. Now she is resigning amid accusations that she folded too quickly to the Trump administration. Last week, Columbia announced that it would carry out a list of reforms demanded by the federal government, including giving campus police arrest powers and new oversight for the Department of Middle East Studies. That was in order to begin the process of restoring $400m of annual federal grants that the Trump administration cancelled for Columbia. That’s about a fifth of its operating budget. And this punishment was for alleged anti-Semitism and for the university’s response to encampment protesters who have been demonstrating against Israel’s war in Gaza. There is no guarantee that this federal money will be restored to Columbia, but Armstrong was recently praised by Trump’s education secretary for agreeing to the government’s demands. Many of Columbia’s faculty, though, were not happy about what they viewed as their president’s acquiescence without even so much as a legal battle. And there’s also concern that this will further embolden the Trump administration to go after other universities, which it already has.

People in Europe should prepare themselves for emergencies like a war or disaster- That’s the message from the European Union and NATO. As part of its preparedness strategy, Brussels is urging people to have enough supplies at home to survive 72 hours without running water, electricity, and internet.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip had little to celebrate as they marked Eid al-Fitr with rapidly dwindling food supplies and no end in sight to the Israeli bombardment. Many held prayers outside demolished mosques on the day marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, as at least 22 Palestinians were killed on Sunday, most of them women and children. The Muslim festival is supposed to be a joyous occasion, when families gather for feasts and buy new clothes for children – but most of Gaza’s two million Palestinians are just trying to survive.

The US economy is showing signs of weakness with unemployment rising and prices increasing. President Donald Trump calls it a period of transition but has declined to rule out a recession.

A last-minute trip by American officials to Greenland, is causing outrage in the semi-autonomous Danish territory. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to annex the island.

At least 60 Palestinians were killed on Monday alone. Many of them have been living in tents. More than 50,000 people have been confirmed dead since October 2023, with another 11,000 declared dead, their bodies believed to be trapped under rubble.

Christian evangelical organisations in the Netherlands are violating international law and EU sanctions by collecting money for illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. These are the findings of an investigation by the Dutch investigative platform Investico and TV programme BOOS. One organisation has even offered to buy weapons.

Military plans for US air strikes on Yemen have been shared with a journalist on the messaging platform Signal, hours before they were carried out. The editor in chief of the Atlantic Magazine said he was added to a group chat, by the White House national security adviser. The White House has confirmed the messages are real, with the breach sparking a firestorm in Washington over how the administration handles classified information.

A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo is trying 63 soldiers accused of deserting their posts in North Kivu’s Lubero territory. The army claims they abandoned their positions as M23 rebels advanced. The UN has reported human rights violations by the army, government-allied militias, and the M23 in eastern DRC.

In Bangladesh, families of victims who were abducted and held in secret detention centres are calling for justice. A commission has found children among hundreds of people imprisoned -- during deposed leader Sheikh Hasina's tenure. She was overthrown in a student-led uprising last year.

One of the major problems facing the Chinese government at this week’s National People’s Congress is the real estate sector. The building boom, which for so long fuelled rapid growth, stuttered during the economic slowdown, leaving developers crippled by debt and investors empty handed.

Children in Gaza face lasting wounds from war, with many injured by unexploded ordnance in their homes and streets. Aid groups work to rehabilitate victims and raise awareness about these hidden dangers. Families struggle to secure medical care, while injured children undergo therapy to recover. Efforts focus on preventing future tragedies through education. Despite the challenges, resilience and hope persist among survivors. With international support, aid organisations aim to expand their reach. Healing extends beyond physical recovery to rebuilding lives.

A Bangladeshi student group that led an uprising to oust Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year has started a new political party. The launch of the National Citizen Party was celebrated on Friday with a major rally.

G20 finance ministers and central bank governors are meeting in Cape Town, but several key members are absent. The US Treasury Secretary cited obligations in Washington, following the Secretary of State’s absence at a G20 meeting in Johannesburg. Meanwhile, African leaders are pushing for debt relief as defaults and rising living costs affect several nations. South Africa is using its G20 presidency to advance African interests, but shrinking foreign aid and US disengagement raise concerns. Critics question the G20’s relevance as major finance ministers skip meetings. Analysts warn of geopolitical shifts affecting global stability. South Africa aims to prioritise debt sustainability and energy transition, but reduced US support may hinder these efforts.

In South Sudan, a family of nine was ambushed by armed men in military uniforms while driving home from a funeral. One relative was killed, and the attackers threatened to burn them alive before stealing their possessions. The incident highlights the country’s ongoing instability, seven years after a peace deal ended a civil war. Political turmoil and ethnically targeted violence are rising, with communities once living peacefully now divided. Despite efforts by local leaders to reduce tensions, politicians are accused of stoking conflict for power. Meanwhile, the government blames a UN arms embargo for delaying the implementation of the peace agreement, leaving civilians like the ambushed family desperate for safety.

China’s defence budget has grown annually since 2013, reaching $245 billion this year, second only to the US Its military expansion includes the world’s largest navy, with aircraft carriers, assault ships, and advanced submarines. The air force has developed stealth jets and AI-powered unmanned fighters to enhance combat capabilities. A fourth aircraft carrier, expected to be nuclear-powered, is in development. President Xi Jinping emphasises military readiness, aiming not just to prevail but to win future conflicts. Advanced AI and drone technology remain key focuses in China’s military strategy.

More than a hundred Indian migrants deported from the US say they were mistreated. They report being handcuffed throughout a grueling 40-hour flight on a military aircraft. The mass deportation is part of President Donald Trump’s broader crackdown on illegal immigration, raising concerns over human rights violations.

Israel's air strikes on Gaza have wiped out entire families overnight. Palestinians say the intensity of the attacks resembles the early days of the war. Dozens of bodies have been brought to al-Ahli Hospital, the last health facility still partially functioning in Gaza City.

Israel has launched a major assault on Gaza, shattering the fragile two-month-old ceasefire between its forces and Hamas. At least 237 people have been killed in renewed Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, including many children. Israel's military is now threatening to increase those attacks.

Germany’s leadership is pushing to significantly increase defense spending and expand its military capabilities. With concerns over the potential decline of US aid to Ukraine, some politicians are advocating for constitutional changes to remove borrowing restrictions.

The Israeli army has issued new demolition orders against more homes in the Nur Shams refugee camps in the northern occupied West Bank. Earlier this week the Israeli army destroyed 11 houses in the camp. Some people managed to briefly visit their homes after they'd been forced to leave them.

China has set an annual growth target of “about 5 percent”, promising to make domestic demand its main economic driver as an escalating trade war with the United States hit exports. The headline growth figure announced by Premier Li Qiang at an annual Communist Party conclave on Wednesday also included a rare rise in fiscal funding, allowing China’s budget deficit to reach 4 percent this year as it battles stuttering employment for young people, low consumer demand and a property sector debt crisis. Under the plans, some 12 million new jobs will be created in Chinese cities as Beijing pushes for 2 percent inflation this year.

In a statement on his platform Truth Social, the US president says the military has launched a “decisive and powerful military action” against the Houthis in Yemen. “They have waged an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism against American, and other ships, aircraft, and drones,” Trump said. He said Houthi rebels have been targeting US ships, aircraft, troops and allies. “The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated,” the president also said. “We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective,” Trump added. His post comes moments after Houthi-linked media outlets in Yemen announced strikes carried out by the US, without giving details. Houthis said that they will attack any Israeli ship that violates the group’s ban on Israeli ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden. The leader of Yemen’s Houthis said that the group was resuming its naval operations against Israel as the country did not lift a blockage of aid into Gaza within a four-day deadline set by the group.

Syrian security forces are trying to restore order in a suburb of Damascus, after an officer was killed in fighting with Druze armed groups. Tension has been escalating with some refusing to give up their weapons.

At least 15 people have been injured, after two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped their bombs outside a training range during live-fire drills with US forces. The defense ministry said initial findings indicated the accident was caused by a pilot inputting incorrect bombing coordinates.

EU leaders gathered at an emergency summit in Brussels to stand with Ukraine as transatlantic relations with the US deteriorate. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described it as a "watershed moment," urging the bloc to increase defence spending and rapidly rearm to address the clear and present danger facing Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed relief and gratitude for EU solidarity, especially after the US halted support and intelligence sharing under President Trump. Leaders aim to boost aid for Ukraine, but must convince Hungary’s pro-Moscow leader Viktor Orban not to block their efforts. On the sidelines, French President Emmanuel Macron met Zelenskyy, suggesting France might consider sharing its nuclear deterrent, while emphasizing Europe’s need for defence sovereignty—a stance gaining traction among allies.

More than two months after the fall of Bashar al Assad, Syria’s new administration is taking its first major step towards charting the way forward. The national dialogue conference, set to begin on Tuesday, aims to address key political, economic, and social issues. But beyond the official agenda, new leaders have to balance international demands with internal divisions.

Russia continues to insist that it will accept a peace deal with Ukraine - but only on its terms. Moscow has also dismissed suggestions of European troops on the ground in Ukraine after the conflict ends.

Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino has called Donald Trump a liar in an angry response to the US president's claim that he will “take back” the Panama Canal. Trump says Panama has violated the terms of a treaty and is allowing China and other countries to control the US-built waterway.

Diplomats at the United Nations have called on Israel to adhere to its international obligations regarding the Gaza Strip, as the blockade on humanitarian deliveries continues. This comes after the official conclusion of phase one of the aid distribution last week, which has left the region's residents facing severe shortages of basic supplies. The calls for action intensify as the humanitarian crisis deepens and the international community pressures Israel to allow the entry of life-saving aid.

US President Donald Trump is temporarily pausing all pending US military aid for Ukraine. A White House official says Washington is reviewing whether billions of dollars given to Kyiv is contributing to a solution to end the war with Russia. Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky for suggesting the end of the war is likely far away, warning America won't put up with it for much longer. A meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Friday descended into a shouting match after Ukraine's leader demanded security guarantees.

Hamas has rejected Israel's demand for an extension to phase one of the Gaza ceasefire, accusing it of blackmail over releasing more captives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blocked life-saving aid into the strip drawing global condemnation and concerns.

US President Donald Trump signed an order making English the US’s official language, citing unity and efficiency. Critics call it divisive, targeting non-English speakers. The move makes translation services optional for federal agencies. Trump had previously courted Spanish-speaking voters but later removed the White House’s Spanish website. Over 32 states already recognise English as their official language. The US Census says one in five Americans speaks another language at home. The order could be revoked by a future administration.

In Ukraine, public support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy grows following a tense and controversial meeting at the White House. The three-way debate with Donald Trump and his vice president ended with Zelenskyy being asked to leave, sparking criticism and concern.

Ukraine’s steel industry, vital to its economy, faces severe challenges as Russia now controls 13 of Ukraine’s 21 coke plants and many of its 150 coal mines since annexing Crimea in 2014. The loss of Azovstal and other plants has cut production, impacting exports and economic recovery. Steelworkers fear territorial concessions could permanently damage the sector. Russia’s control of ports has further strained exports, while potential US tariffs add to the difficulties. A major plant in Zaporizhzhia continues operating despite repeated attacks. The government has no clear plan for reclaiming lost industry. Trump’s stance raises concerns over Ukraine’s territorial future.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Friday to sign a mineral deal, securing vital resources for Ukraine’s economy. However, concerns persist over what security assurances the US will provide amid ongoing conflict with Russia.

Over the past two days, Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes across Syria, targeting areas in the south and near Damascus. At least one person has been killed, with Syrian leaders condemning the strikes as 'unprovoked attacks.' Earlier, Syria called on Israel to withdraw from territory it has occupied since the fall of the Assad regime in December.

Israel's military says it's been carrying out air strikes in southern Syria and outside the capital Damascus. The strikes reportedly hit command centres and military bases containing weapons - that's according to the Israeli military. At least one person was killed. Hours before the attacks, Syria condemned Israel's invasion of a buffer zone between Israel and Syria, calling for it to withdraw its forces. Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu says his troops will remain in the occupied Golan Heights “indefinitely.”

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is in Beijing for a three-day visit, as relations with China face challenges. The visit follows Chinese naval exercises off Australia’s east coast and concerns over Beijing’s expanding influence in the Pacific Islands.

The final exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners under phase one of the Gaza ceasefire deal, has concluded. Late on Wednesday, Hamas handed over four bodies to the Red Cross. Shortly after, Israel returned hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Among them were the detainees Israel refused to release last week. But Israel is delaying the release of 24 Palestinian children until the identities of the four Israeli captives are confirmed.

Donald Trump hosts the French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House - three years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The two leaders signalled that European peace-keepers would likely end up facilitating any peace agreement.

In a stark departure from historic US diplomacy, the country's diplomats have voted against a resolution to name Russia as an aggressor state and calling on Moscow to remove its troops from Ukraine. Following fierce negotiations, the UN eventually backed the resolution.